District 3 Councilman Paul Lopez on Thursday confirmed he's running for Denver County Clerk and Recorder after spending 11 years serving Denver's Westside on the council.
“Now more than ever, our participation is critical to the future of our city and of our very democracy,” Lopez said in a release announcing his candidacy. “We refuse to be bullied or intimidated by those at the State and Federal levels who seek to take rights away, and we will defend our city block-by-block, ballot-by-ballot.”
Lopez told Denverite in February he was seriously considering running for the clerk's seat. According to the release, Lopez submitted paperwork with the Denver Elections Office on Thursday afternoon alongside his campaign treasurer Leslie Twarogowski. Lopez wants to replace current Denver Clerk and Recorder Debra Johnson, who said last year she wouldn't be seeking re-election.
Lopez, 40, is term-limited and is the most senior member of the Denver City Council. He said it's been an honor to represent "the amazing people of Denver's Westside." The Denver native said he will continue fighting for and representing the city's residents as clerk and recorder.
Citing his experience, Lopez believes he was able to help "transform Denver’s Westside from being overlooked and underrepresented to becoming a thriving district with strong civic participation and city investment."
“At my very core, I am an organizer, and we will move forward together in a way that will increase civic participation, public accountability, and strengthen our continued presence at the polls,” Lopez said in the release. “Bureaucracy and lack of transparency dissuade Denver’s future generations from participating — this includes everything from running for office to understanding campaign finance rules and working for change within the city. It’s time for that to change.”
Lopez joins Margaret "Peg" Perl as a candidate for the office. Former Denver Director of Elections Amber McReynolds told Denverite in July she's considering running for the city clerk seat as well.
Denver's municipal elections take place in May 2019.
